Veneer clamp



A. cALAB Q Oct, 10, 1950 VENEER CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 19, 1948 I Anfhony Ca/abro Fig.9-

INVENTOR. BY Q14.

Attorney:

and

Patented Oct. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,525,204 VENEER CLAMP Anthony Calabro, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor of one-third to Joseph Adamo, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July19, 1948, Serial No. 39,441

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to clamps and presses which are especially, but not necessarily, adapted for satisfactorily applying and fastenin a strip of veneer to a complemental work-piece.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a portable clamp or press for veneering pieces of furniture, desks and table tops and the like, It is the practice in many shops to utilize comparativel large heavy duty veneering presses and, ordinarily, it is necessary to take the work to the press. vention is to provide a portable or hand-type veneering press in the form of a clamp and to utilize any number of clamps needed to obtain the desired ends, whereby the user takes the clamping press to the site of the work instead of carting or otherwise tak ng the work, often unwieldy and burdensome structures, to'the stationary press.

Needless to say, I am aware that portable clamps used as veneering presses are not new. Therefore, in presenting the instant matter, I seek to cover and protect the specific structural improvements and refinements which are embodied in the press and not the procedure or method followed in utilizing said press.

One version of the invention, structurally speaking, has to'do with the adoption and use of a horizontal base unit having studs secured in the end portions thereof and rising at right angles therefrom, said studs serving to assemble and adjustably maintain in place a complemental relatively movable clamping unit, coiled springs bein employed and surrounding the studs and interposed between the end portions of the two units for cushioning the relatively movable unit and for lifting it on thestuds to automatically spread the two units apart for expeditious handling and use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of the stated type characterized by said base and clamping units, the latter unit being provided with elongated slots and complemental keyways to accommodate longitudinally adjustable hand turned pressure screwS, said pressure screws serving to apply pressure to a coacting pressure equalizing member whichrests on the veneer for purposes of firmly and evenly spreading and holding same while it is glued to the complemental foundation or work-piece.

Another object of the invention is to provide complemental clamping units wherein each unit is made up of sections which have block-like entral inserts and connecting plateswhereb the inserts and sections may be collectively extend- The principal object of the present in ed or contracted for purposes of varying lengths ofv the respective units whenever necessary or desired.

7 Other and more specific features and advantages will become more readil apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals, are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fragmentary portion of a work bench or table, and showing the clamping press constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrating the manner in which same may be conveniently used for veneering work,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the veneering press or clamp constructed in accordance with my ideas and separate from the work bench and the work,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure seen in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the structure seen in Figure 2,

Figures 5 and 6 are cross sections on the lines 5- 5 and 66 respectively of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the hand regulated pressure screws,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale with the essential parts ,exploded but in proper relative positions of one of the units,

' Figure 9 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 99 in Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and,

Figure 10 is a, detail view showing a modified type of insert carrying a pressure screw.

I Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals attention comes first to Figure 1 wherein I 2 denotes a suitable work bench or table with appropriate supporting legs [3. The work-piece or foundation part of the work, broadl speaking, is denoted by the numeral 14 and is a, piece of wood which may be of any size and proportions. The strip of veneering which is to be applied thereto and glued is denoted by the numeral l5. On the other hand the numeral [6 designates a pressure piece which is adapted to receive the thrust from pressure screws to uniformly apply the pressure to the veneering to spread it and to compress it and hold it flat against the foundation until it adheres, by intervening glue or other adhesive, thereto.

In the drawings the bottom or base unit of the press is denoted, as a general assemblage, bythe numeral l1 and the complemental relatively movable top or clamping unit is denoted by the numeral 18. These two units are of equal lengths and disposed in spaced parallelism and the base unit is adapted to extend crosswise of the table top l2 as shown while the other unit [8 is above the table and is adapted to be brought down to apply the wanted pressure. In many instances these units I! and I8 could be of one-piece construction but experience has shown that it is generally necessary to make said units of sections which may be shortened or lengthened by proper adjustment to accommodate work pieces of varying lengths and to insure the application of uniform pressure. The base unit I! (see Figure 2 and 3 in particular) is made up of companion substantially duplicate sections l9 and 20 the inner ends of which are notched or stepped to provide extensions 2! which have half-lap jointing connection with similar shoulder extensions 22 on the ends of an insertable and removable filler block 23. The opposite longitudinal side faces of the parts I9, 20 and 23 are provided with channels or grooves 24 (see Figure 6) which accommodate insertable and removable metal connecting braces 25 having elongated slots 26 to accommodate and permit passage of the end portions of assembling and retaining bolts 21, the latter held in place by thumb nuts 28 bearing against suitable coacting washers 29. The end sections 19 and 20 are provided with rigid right angularly disposed assembling studs 30 having pin holes 3l and longitudinally spaced points to accommodate an insertable and removable L- shaped pin or key 32 which serves in a manner to be hereinafter described. Reference being had first to Figure 5, it will be seen I provide rectangular plates held in place by screws, said plates being denoted by the numeral 33 and said plates having sockets 34 to accommodate the screw-threaded end portions 35 of the rods or studs 30. Thus, the unit I! is made up of duplicate sections 20 carrying right angularly disposed attachable and detachable studs 30 and an intervening filler block 23 and connecting slotted plates 25 and bolts 21, as shown.

The complemental clamping unit I3 is made up along similar constructional lines. That is to say, said unit I3 is characterized by outer duplicate sections 36 and 31 having transverse holes for passage of the studs 30. Coiled springs 38 are provided and are interposed between the respective sections I9, 20, 36 and 3'! and the springs serve to float the entire unit l8 and also to cushion it and to assist in releasing it from clamping position when the pins 32 are removed. Referring to. Figure 8 at this stage, it will be seen that the inner end portions of the sections 36 and 31 are notched to provide shoulders 39 which engage coacting properly arranged shoulders 40 on the end portions of the insertable and removable block or insert 4|. So, here again we have the inner ends of the main sections having halflap jointing connection with the interposed filler block, the same as described in connection with the unit IT. The filler block 4| has grooves in opposite sides denoted at 42 which register with similar grooves 43 in the end sections to accommodate coacting portions of the connecting plate 44. The plate has elongated slots 45 to accommodate projecting assembling and retaining studs or bolts 46 and 41. Here again the bolts are provided with washers 48 and thumb nuts 49. It follows that the sections 36 and 3'! may be slid toward and from each other between the assembling plates 44 making is possible to insert blocks of different sizes. That is to say, I might use a relatively short block instead of the one 4| shown and the blocks will vary in lengths depending on the degree of adjustment required in changing the overall length of the unit l8. Incidentally, it may be pointed out that some of the inserts may be sufiiciently long that they would have to have stabilizing studs 41 and some may be short as shown for example in Figure 1 wherein no such studs are required.

It will be noted that the sections 36 and 31 are Provided with elongated slots 50 to accommodate hand positioned and regulated pressure screws 5|. These pressure screws are threaded through nuts 52 as shown in Figure '7. The nuts are slid back and forth in keyways 53 provided in inner opposed surface of the walls, that is, the longitudinal walls of said slots 50. Consequently, the pressure screws may be slid toward and from each other depending on the length of the pressure applicator piece or member 16 as shown in Figure 1. In case it is necessary to put a large filler block between the sections, say the sections 36 and 37, for instance the long block such as shown in Figure 10 at 54, suitable shoulders will be provided at 55 and an extra thrust screw (maybe two if necessary) 55 will be provided. This will be threaded through an adapter 51 which is screwed in place at 53 and said screw will have swivelly mounted work head 59; Incidentally, the aforementioned pressure screws 5| (see Figure '7) also have swivelly mounted self-leveling pressure heads 60.

In reviewing the structure it will be seen that the base or lower unit of the complete press is denotedby the numeral I! and is characterized by longitudinally extensible and contractable components l9 and 20 with interposed central filler means and connecting plates. The upper section I8 is of a corresponding construction and may be extended and contracted so that both units l1 and 18 may be used in proper united and companion relationship. They are held in respective positions by the studs 35 and fastening pins 32 and cushioning springs 38 are provided for the stated results. It follows that the upper and lower units may be adjusted to desired lengths for the particular job required. Then, the structure is located on the work bench or elsewhere to accomplish the desired job. By interposing the pressure equalizer it between the sheet of veneer and the upper unit l8 and then adjusting the pressure clamps 5! in the slots 50 they may be arranged at the most advantageous positions to uniformly spread the pressure which is applied distributively to the veneer. The upper unit (8 is slid down on the studs 30 against the tension of the expansion springs 38 to an approximate working position.

Then, the final and finer adjustment is made by bringing the thrust or pressure screws into contact with the part l6 and the work made up of parts [4 and I5. It will be seen therefore that the range of utility, complemental relation-- ship and adjustment of various parts is such as to permit the invention to serve satisfactorily. It is to be pointed out that it may be necessary to make the sections 36 and 31 in complemental parts, an upper part for example and a lower part 6| which is screwed or otherwise held in place as shown in Figure 9. This is to facilitate the assembling and removal of the nuts 52 in relation to the slide ways or key ways 53, as is obvious.

It is reasonable to believe that persons familiar with the construction and use of wood working and equivalent clamps and portable presses will clearly understand the invention, the mode of constructing the essential sections and units of same and the manner in which said units are assembled and used, adjusted, repaired and the like.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. As an article of manufacture and as a component part of a veneer press of the class described, a pair of duplicate end sections having shoulder portions at their inner adjacent ends, a filler block interposed between said inner ends and having shoulder portions, the respective shoulder portions on the filler block and inner ends of said sections being in overlapping relationship, the side walls of said sections and block having aligned grooves, plates fitted in said grooves, said plates having elongated slots, said filler block and sections having nut equipped bolts operable through said slots, said end sections having assembling studs arranged to extend at right angles to the sections.

2. As a new article of manufacture and as a component part of a veneer press of the class described, a clamping unit made up of duplicate end sections and an intervening insertable and REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 325,122 Shearer Aug. 25, 1885 553,063 Hansen Jan. 14, 1896 986,496 Palmer et a1. Mar. 14, 1911 1,063,332 Diehl June 3, 1913 1,327,815 Francis Jan. 13, 1920 1,583,611 Seely May 4, 1926 1,809,769 Wetzler June 9, 1931 1,831,227 Clark Nov. 10, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 26,820 Sweden Dec. 5, 1907 

